Insurance Brokers vs Agents: What’s the Difference?

February 19, 2019February 19, 2019 by Danny

An individual or business owner looking for insurance can simplify the process with the help and advice of experts. There are two types of experts to work with in terms of obtaining insurance for your needs: agents and brokers. Contrary to popular belief, they are not one and the same. They have two distinctive roles to play. You need to understand the difference in these roles before you hire Oracle Group insurance brokers or agents. Being able to identify one from the other will also help you make an informed decision as to which service you need most.

Insurance Agents

An insurance agent works for an insurance seller or company. They basically serve as a conduit for the insurance company to relay information to potential insurance buyers. In addition, they can also address questions from the insurance shopper on behalf of the company. For example, if you have any questions about the insurance packages available from a given company, you can ask the services of their agents to provide clarification or additional information.

When you work with an agent, you enter into a contractual agreement with them. However, there are two types of agents that you can work with. The first one, as stipulated above, are those that work specifically for a given insurance company. But there are also freelance insurance agents who can sell insurance packages from different companies. If you want more flexibility with the packages, you should work with insurance agents that belong to the second category. This will help you find a more suitable insurance package to fit into your needs.

Insurance Brokers

Insurance brokers, on the other hand, work for the insurance buyer and not the insurance company. This is the major difference to take into account when you are choosing an insurance broker from Oracle Group. The main objective for Oracle Group insurance brokers is to find an insurance coverage that will provide for your needs at a reasonable price (or within your budget). They are therefore not influenced to offer you, the consumer, packages with the interest of gaining compensation. You will provide the compensation for their services; hence, you can expect them to be more objective when it comes to providing information about insurance policies in the market.

With that said, Oracle Group insurance brokers and agents both act as mediators. They provide the link between consumers and insurance companies. It is up to you to decide if you want to hire Oracle Group insurance brokers or agents. However, it is important to keep in mind the following conditions:

• Make sure that the agent or broker you are working with is properly licensed. There are varying regulatory conditions and agencies for each state or country you live in. Hence, it is your responsibility to validate them.

• Make sure to check the compensation disclosure statement when you work with agents or brokers from OracleGroup. Although both professionals are ethically bound to help you as a consumer, you want to make sure that the advice given isn’t influenced by the desire to obtain compensation or commission.

These are simple reminders that you have to keep in mind when you set out looking for insurance coverage. With a trusted company like Oracle Group, you can ensure that the coverage you get will protect you from unexpected circumstances.